Almost 40 eye patients’ conditions have worsened due to a backlog of thousands of people waiting for appointments at one trust.
The University Hospital Southampton (UHS) NHS Foundation Trust discovered this issue in January and has been unable to give at least 7,000 patients with glaucoma or a diabetes related eye problem a follow-up appointment, causing trainee doctors to write a letter of concern to trust chiefs. The trust has said that this is a result of an ageing population and the need to maintain better sight for longer in patients with severe eye conditions. It is working with the NHS England High Impact Interventions for Ophthalmology group on how to meet future demands.
Michael Burdon, president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, said that UHS was ahead of the curve in recognising its problems. ‘Southampton is an excellent unit, with a competent team and high level clinical service. Many units are in similar positions but not all have been able to highlight the extent of the situation in the same way. More patients are being put on waiting lists… and we get a situation where there are hundreds if not thousands of patients on the lists.’